WEATHER. 



WEATHER. 



is that the succeeding day will be rainy. It is 

 a sign of rain or wind when sparrows chirp a 

 great deal ; if the redbreast be seen near houses ; 

 or swallows fly near the ground, or brush the 

 surface of the water. When sea-fowl and olher 

 aquatic birds retire to the sea-shore, or more 

 inland, it generally indicates a change of w.ea- 

 ther. If larks or kites soar high, and continue 

 so for some time, it is generally a sign of fine 

 weather. If the kingfisher disappear, expect 

 fine weather. If swallows and mariins fly lower 

 than usual, foul weather may be expected. 



Mr. Yarrell, in his History of British Birds, 

 vol. iii. p. 117, records an instance of instinct, 

 showing how useful an attention to 'the move- 

 ments of animals, '&c., might occasionally 

 prove: "I am indebted' to the kindness of 

 Lord Braybrooke for the following account of 

 a female swan, on the small stream at Bishop's 

 Storiford. This swan was 18 or 19 years old, 

 had brought up many broods, and was highly 

 valued by the neighbours. She exhibited, some 

 8 or 9 years past, one of the most remarkable 

 instances of the power of instinct that was ever 

 recorded. She was sitting on four or five eggs, 

 and was observed. to be very busy in collecting 

 grass, weeds, &c.,'to raise her nest; a farming 

 man was ordered to take down half a load of 

 haulm straw, with which she most industriously 

 raised her nest and the eggs 2^ feet; that very 

 night there came down a tremendous fall of rain, 

 which flooded all the malt-shops, and did great 

 damage. Man made no preparation; the bird 

 did. Instinct prevailed over reason ; her eggs 

 were above, and only just above, the water." 



The same author, in his account of the green 

 woodpecker (Pints vim/is), known in some lo- 

 calities as the "rain-bird," from being very 

 vociferous when rain is impending, alludes to 

 the probable means by which birds and some 

 other animals become cognisant of approach- 

 ing changes in the weather. The following is 

 the rationale referred to: 



" It is highly probable that no change, takes 

 place in the" weather without some previous 

 alteration in the electrical, condition of the at- 

 mosphere, and we can easily understand that' 

 birds, entirely covered as they are with feathers, 

 which are known to be readily affected with 

 electricity, shou4d be- susceptible of certain im- 

 pressions, which are indicated by peculiar 

 actions; thus, birds and other animals, 'cover- 

 ed only with 'the production of their highly sen- 

 sible skin, become living- barometers to good 

 observers." (Yarrdfs British' Birds, vol. ii. p. 

 136.) 



Insects, being very sensible of every change 

 in the atmosphere, are good weather guides. 



When gnats collect themselves before the 

 setting sun, and form a sort of vortex in the 

 shape of a column, it announces fine weather. 

 If they play up and down in the open air near 

 sunset, they presage heat ; if in the shade, mild 

 and warm showers ; but if they sting, those 

 passing them, cold weather and much rain may 

 be expected. 



If garden spiders break off and destroy their 

 webs, and creep away, expect continued rain 

 and showery weather. 



If spider webs (gossamer) fly in the autumn, 

 expect fine weather. 

 1102 



The following curious observations on the 

 singular foreknowledge possessed by the spider 

 are extracted from a little work entitled The 

 Pocket Baromctef. This despised insect often- 

 times indicates a coming change in the weather 

 10, 12, or 14 days previous to its taking place. 

 The following directions will be a guide to the 

 curious in their observations of this insect: 

 If the weather is likely to become rainy, or 

 windy, spiders fix the terminating filaments on 

 which the whole web is suspended unusually 

 short. If the terminating filaments, on the 

 contrary, are very long, the weather will be 

 serene, and continue so for 14 days. If spiders 

 be totally indolent, rain generally ensues; 

 though their activity during rain is a certain 

 proof of its short duration, and that it will be 

 followed by fine and settled weather. Spiders 

 usually make some alteration in their webs 

 every 24 hours. If this take place between 

 the hours of 6 and 7 p. M., it foretells a clear 

 and serene night. 



The weather is about to become cloudy and 

 change for wet, when flies sting and are more 

 troublesome than usual. Most insects become 

 torpid when their temperature is much reduced. 

 When it approaches the freezing point, they 

 fall into a lethargic state, and require no food. 

 Ants present a remarkable exception to this 

 rule ; for they are not benumbed till the ther- 

 mometer is 27 of Fahr., or 5 below freezing 

 point. When bees do not range abroad as 

 usual, but keep in or -About their hives, it is a 

 sign of rain. 



In the summer season much information re- 

 lative to the change of the weather may be 

 gained from watching the movements of ants. 

 The finer the day, the more busily are they 

 employed, as they never bring out their corn to 

 dry but when the weather is clear and the sun 

 very hot. A celebrated naturalist relates the 

 following curious anecdote:^ He one day 

 observed these little creatures, after having 

 brought out their corn at eleven in the forenoon, 

 removing the same, contrary to- their usual 

 custom, before one in the afternoon." The sun. 

 being very hot', and the sky remarkably clear, 

 he could perceive no reason for it ; but half an 

 hour after, his surprise ceased the sky began 

 to be overcast, and there fell a shower of rain, 

 which caused all this bustle, no doubt, among 

 these active little creatures: they evidently 

 foresaw rain, and provided accordingly ; and 

 were we minutely to examine into the economy 

 and management of these wonderful artificers, 

 many, other similar and equally curious facts 

 might be gleaned relative to the weather. 



The leech also possesses the peculiar pro- 

 perty of indicating approaching changes of the 

 weather in a most eminent degree. In fair and 

 frosty weather it remains motionless and rolled 

 up in a spiral form at the bottom of the vessel ; 

 previous, however, to rain or snow, it will 

 creep to the top, where, should the rain be 

 heavy, or of long continuance, it will remain, 

 for a considerable time, if transient, it will 

 descend. Should the rain or snow be accom- 

 panied with wind, it will dart about with great 

 velocity, and seldom cease its evolutions until 

 it blows hard. If a storm of thunder or light- 

 ning be approaching, it will be exceedingly 



